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Sounders And Crew Draw As Sparks Fly
In front of another Seattle sellout crowd at Qwest Field and their celebrity owner, the Sounders and Crew tie in a match that was anything but dull.
May 31, 2009 7:59:07 PM
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid left the Columbus Crew last year after winning the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield. The two teams, heavily influenced by Schmid, played to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining and controversial match.
Columbus scored in the first half and Seattle responded with a goal in the second half. The tie allowed each team to earn one point and keep their unbeaten streaks intact.
"I was disappointed in terms of our team’s focus at times," Schmid said when asked about his team’s play. "I thought we got overly concerned about the referee."
"I think they played quick off a free kick while we were setting up," Sounders goalie Kasey Keller said about the mental lapses that resulted in the Crew’s first goal. "We have to me more focused when the ball’s out of play."
Schmid’s replacement, Crew head coach Robert Warchywa, was satisfied in the outcome. "It’s good the game ended because they were pushing in front of the goal. A point here in Seattle is good for us."
Crew forward Alejandro Moreno scored his second goal of the year to give Columbus an early lead.
"I’m hoping for an early cross (from forward Pat Noonan). I’m also hoping that Hurtado (Sounders FC defender) doesn’t get to the ball. Then, I was able to finish on a diving header. A very good goal for us.”
The Sounders responded in the second half when forward Nate Jaqua netted his third goal of the season. Midfielder Steve Zachuani passed the ball to Freddie Ljungberg, and the Swede lofted a high pass to Jaqua. The ex-Houston Dynamo made no mistake one-timing the ball in mid-air into the net.
Zakuani attributed the goal to a change of tactics made by Schmid to get Jaqua the ball. “For the goal, it just worked perfectly. Nate came off from a defender, Freddie (Ljungberg) made a late run and hit a nice one-two and a fantastic finish by Nate.”
Crew midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo drew a cascade of boos from the Seattle fans for his post-foul reactions after several tumbles to the ground. Despite the negative feelings directed at him, Ekpo complimented Seattle’s supporters.
"I think they were quite upset because I fell a couple of times," Ekpo said. "I got hit by the defenders. I fell and I know the fans didn’t like that. They were a bit cross with me. It’s part of the game.
"It’s a very good atmosphere. I like the fans and the way they support the team."
Ekpo’s replacement, Steven Lenhart, would soon be in the middle of a fray with Marshall that few players or fans saw.
Referee Kennedy added five minutes of extra time in the second half. After two minutes, a stoppage in play occurred near the Seattle penalty area. With Keller ready to kick the ball, Kennedy came over and told Keller he’d issued a red card to Marshall. Both teams were confused by the ejection.
Keller gave his version of the incident. He recalled, “The ref called me over and said, ‘Bring your guys back because Tyrone’s getting sent off because he punched somebody’. I didn’t see a punch anywhere”
Crew coach Warchywa had his own perspective on the ejection.
"I didn’t know what happened on the red card," he said. "I asked my players in the locker room what the hell happened. They said Tyrone threw an elbow and hit him in the face."
In exclusive comments to Goal.com, Drew Carey, one of Sounders FC co-owners, comedian and television icon, had his own thoughts on the game.
"It was exciting," Carey said of the intense match. "It’s stuff you don’t see every day, that’s for sure. We should have won it."
When asked about his experience as a new owner, Carey said, “"It’s a different perspective. Everything hurts more, excites you more. You take it a lot more personally because your money’s on the line. I concern myself with everything that’s going on in the league now."
John Zielonka, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
Columbus scored in the first half and Seattle responded with a goal in the second half. The tie allowed each team to earn one point and keep their unbeaten streaks intact.
"I was disappointed in terms of our team’s focus at times," Schmid said when asked about his team’s play. "I thought we got overly concerned about the referee."
"I think they played quick off a free kick while we were setting up," Sounders goalie Kasey Keller said about the mental lapses that resulted in the Crew’s first goal. "We have to me more focused when the ball’s out of play."
Schmid’s replacement, Crew head coach Robert Warchywa, was satisfied in the outcome. "It’s good the game ended because they were pushing in front of the goal. A point here in Seattle is good for us."
Crew forward Alejandro Moreno scored his second goal of the year to give Columbus an early lead.
"I’m hoping for an early cross (from forward Pat Noonan). I’m also hoping that Hurtado (Sounders FC defender) doesn’t get to the ball. Then, I was able to finish on a diving header. A very good goal for us.”
The Sounders responded in the second half when forward Nate Jaqua netted his third goal of the season. Midfielder Steve Zachuani passed the ball to Freddie Ljungberg, and the Swede lofted a high pass to Jaqua. The ex-Houston Dynamo made no mistake one-timing the ball in mid-air into the net.
Zakuani attributed the goal to a change of tactics made by Schmid to get Jaqua the ball. “For the goal, it just worked perfectly. Nate came off from a defender, Freddie (Ljungberg) made a late run and hit a nice one-two and a fantastic finish by Nate.”
Crew midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo drew a cascade of boos from the Seattle fans for his post-foul reactions after several tumbles to the ground. Despite the negative feelings directed at him, Ekpo complimented Seattle’s supporters.
"I think they were quite upset because I fell a couple of times," Ekpo said. "I got hit by the defenders. I fell and I know the fans didn’t like that. They were a bit cross with me. It’s part of the game.
"It’s a very good atmosphere. I like the fans and the way they support the team."
Ekpo’s replacement, Steven Lenhart, would soon be in the middle of a fray with Marshall that few players or fans saw.
Referee Kennedy added five minutes of extra time in the second half. After two minutes, a stoppage in play occurred near the Seattle penalty area. With Keller ready to kick the ball, Kennedy came over and told Keller he’d issued a red card to Marshall. Both teams were confused by the ejection.
Keller gave his version of the incident. He recalled, “The ref called me over and said, ‘Bring your guys back because Tyrone’s getting sent off because he punched somebody’. I didn’t see a punch anywhere”
Crew coach Warchywa had his own perspective on the ejection.
"I didn’t know what happened on the red card," he said. "I asked my players in the locker room what the hell happened. They said Tyrone threw an elbow and hit him in the face."
In exclusive comments to Goal.com, Drew Carey, one of Sounders FC co-owners, comedian and television icon, had his own thoughts on the game.
"It was exciting," Carey said of the intense match. "It’s stuff you don’t see every day, that’s for sure. We should have won it."
When asked about his experience as a new owner, Carey said, “"It’s a different perspective. Everything hurts more, excites you more. You take it a lot more personally because your money’s on the line. I concern myself with everything that’s going on in the league now."
John Zielonka, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
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